Page 16 of Romancing the Orc

“Basic survival skills are part of warrior training,” I say. “All orcs learn to do so by the age of sixteen.”

“That’s not what I write in my books.”

“Yet that’s how it’s done in my home realm of Faerie.” I told her I would not lie to her, and I won’t. She writes about Faerie and magic and fantastical places. Surely, if any human can accept the truth of who I am, it is my mate.

“Faerie.” Her lips purse, and she reaches down into the front of her clothing to retrieve the leather journal. Once she’s freed it from the plastic, she moves closer to the fire, opening the book and tilting the pages to better catch the light. “I have an ancestor who claims she went to Faerie.”

I take a closer look at the book, and a jolt of shock goes through me. “That’s written in High Fae!”

Her eyes widen, and she leans forward. “What’s High Fae?”

“Even though most fae species have their own language, the magic of Faerie lets us all speak easily to each other. Yet the same isn’t true for the written word, so High Fae was created asa common written language.” I look up at her. “I thought you knew it. You’ve used the occasional words in your books.”

“I didn’t really understand it—I just had a feeling for what the symbols meant. But now…” Her hand traces the edge of the pages. “Now I can read it, and I don’t know how.”

“You must have magic,” I say. “You’re a witch.”

“Magic?” She looks hopeful for a moment. Then her face falls. “No, it can’t be magic. I can’t do spells or anything.”

“Magic takes many forms. Each human witch brought to Alarria has a different power. One can fly. One can conjure food. Yours must be this.”

“Magic…” Awe fills her voice. Then she shakes her head and closes the journal.

I spin the spitted bird one last time. The skin is starting to crackle, the rich smell of meat filling the air. I remove it from the fire and lay it on a clean palm leaf, making quick work of carving it with my knife. After handing Lara a drumstick, I lift the breast to my lips. My tusks tear into the hot meat. I swallow and grunt. “It could use some salt. I apologize.”

“God, no. Don’t worry.” She takes a dainty bite and chews happily. “I lived on ramen for half a year when I first tried to be an author. This is great.”

I give her the other drumstick, then finish off the first bird and turn to cooking the other. By the time it’s ready, she’s finished her meal and refuses to have any more, so I eat all of it. As an orc, I can go for several days without food if need be, but I want to keep up my strength so I can protect my mate to the best of my ability. The sprites’ Faerie Fruit gave us a head start, but come the morning, the humans will finish their orgy, and we’ll be greatly outnumbered again.

Once I’ve carried the remains of our meal away from the campsite, I return and use my magic to construct a hammock of vines.

Lara whistles appreciatively when she sees it. “Yep. Total boy scout. You must have won all the merit badges.”

I grin.

“So, how do I get into this?” She grabs the lip and swings the hammock a little bit.

“I’ll hold it steady for you.” I step close and grip both edges, spreading open the sides.

She sits uncertainly, immediately falling backward into the dip in the center, her arms and legs flailing. “Shit! Sorry!”

“It’s all right.” It’s adorable, is what it is.

“This thing is huge.” She rests in the center. As soon as I let go of the sides, they close over the top of her, and she lets out a little eep.

“Ah, I made it orc sized.” I spread open the top again. “It’s what I’m used to. I can make you another one.”

“What? No. It’s full dark now. Get in here.”

“With you?” My cock twitches, and the words emerge as a growl.

“We’re adults. I’m sure we can share only one bed / hammock / thingy.” Her hand flutters in the air.

“Butt to butt,” I say, repeating the promise the hero and heroine of her last novel made to one another under similar circumstances.

“Exactly.” She nods up at me. “Butt to butt.”

I climb in beside her, my weight rolling her up against my side, her scent perfuming the air. Goddess, she feels divine! As she does when she squirms and works to get into position on her side, facing away from me.

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